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2000 SESSION

004416760
HOUSE BILL NO. 391
Offered January 13, 2000
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 23 a chapter numbered 16.4, consisting of sections numbered 23-231.19 through 23-231.23, relating to the Virginia Center for School Safety.
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Patrons-- Hamilton, Bloxom, Christian, Diamonstein, Dillard, Jackson, Sherwood, Tata and Van Landingham; Senator: Williams
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Referred to Committee on Education
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 23 a chapter numbered 16.4, consisting of sections numbered 23-231.19 through 23-231.23 as follows:

CHAPTER 16.4.
VIRGINIA CENTER FOR SCHOOL SAFETY.

§ 23-231.19. Virginia Center for School Safety created; duties.

From such funds as may be appropriated, the Virginia Center for School Safety is hereby established and shall be referred to in this chapter as the Center. The Center shall:

1. Provide training for Virginia public school personnel in school safety and the effective identification of students who may be at-risk for violent behavior and in need of special services or assistance;

2. Serve as a resource and referral center for Virginia school divisions by conducting research, sponsoring workshops, and providing information regarding current school safety concerns, such as conflict management and peer mediation, school facility design and technology, current state and federal statutory and regulatory school safety requirements, and legal and constitutional issues regarding school safety and individual rights;

3. Maintain and disseminate information to local school divisions on effective school safety initiatives in Virginia and across the nation;

4. Coordinate with the Department of Education and Virginia institutions of higher education to collate and analyze various Virginia school safety data, including school safety audit information collected by the Department pursuant to § 22.1-278.1;

5. Encourage the development of partnerships between the public and private sectors to promote school safety in Virginia; and

6. Provide technical assistance to Virginia school divisions in the implementation of initiatives promoting school safety.

§ 23-231.20. Membership of governing board; terms; compensation; officers.

A. The Center shall be governed by a Board of Trustees, consisting of seven citizen members to be appointed by the Governor. Of the members to be appointed in 2000, four shall be appointed for three-year terms, and three shall be appointed for four-year terms. Thereafter, all such appointments shall be for terms of four years, except that appointments to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired terms.

B. No member of the Board shall be eligible to serve for or during more than two successive four-year terms, but, after the expiration of a term of three years or less, or after the expiration of the remainder of a term to which appointed to fill a vacancy, two additional four-year terms may be served by such member if appointed thereto.

C. All members of the Board shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in the work of the Center.

D. The Board shall elect a chairman and a vice-chairman from among its members.

§ 23-231.21. Powers of Board.

A. The Board of Trustees shall have all the corporate powers given to corporations by the provisions of Title 13.1, except in those cases where, by the express terms of its provisions, it is confined to corporations created under that title. The Board shall also have the power to accept, execute, and administer any trust in which it may have an interest under the terms of the instrument creating the trust.

B. In addition to its other powers, the Board is authorized to:

1. Apply for, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from public or private sources to enable the Center to carry out its objectives;

2. Make and enter into all contracts or agreements that are necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and to the execution of powers granted by this chapter; and

3. Do all acts and things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers granted to it by this chapter or any other acts.

§ 23-231.22. Executive director; powers and duties; staff.

The Board shall appoint an executive director for the Center who shall supervise and manage the Center and shall prepare and submit, upon direction and approval by the Board, all requests for appropriations. The Executive Director of the Center shall be authorized to employ such staff as necessary to enable the Center to perform its duties as set forth in this chapter. The Board is authorized to determine the duties of such staff and to fix salaries and compensation from such funds as may be appropriated or received.

§ 23-231.23. Cooperation of other agencies.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall cooperate with the Center and, upon request, assist the Center in the performance of its duties and responsibilities.